Spring-wheel.



R. M. KEATING.

SPRING WHEEL,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1914.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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WITNESSES.- Y I/VVEN TOR. a Q Mfl) 7 I A TTORNEYAS- SPRING-VJ HEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, T9116.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,201.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT M. KEATING, a citizenof the United States ofAmerica, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Spring-Wheel, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels in which springsare employed between the axis and rim of a wheel, and resides in one ormore units interposed. between the wheel hub and rim, each of such unitsbeing made up of a series or set of inner and a series or set of outersprings having rigid end attachments and the springs in each set beingarranged in the form of an equilateraltriangle. The two trianglesCOmUllSQCl in each unit are so a ranged relatively that each centraldiameter of the larger out r triangle bisects one side of the smallerinner triangle. Vlhen a plurality of units are provided, such units arearranged side by side or in difierent parallel planes, with the anglesof the larger or outer triangles equidistantly disposed in the circleformed by the rim of the wheel.

The objects of the invention are to construct a wheel in such a manneras to enable to be produced a yielding or resilient action between thehub and rim thereof, whereby the jar and vibration incident to the wheelwhen in operation will be absorbed within the wheel itself, instead ofbeing transmitted to the vehicle and the occupants of the same, and toprovide a Wheel of this character that consists of few parts which maybe readily replaced in case of accident, possesses the necessarystrength and stability to render it available for commercial purposes,and has no parts to become loose and rattle.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by themeans illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a wheel which embodies apractical form of myinvention, the hub of said wheel being cut away back of the foremostflange in order to show clearly the manner of securing the innor springsto the hub, and, Fig. 2, a central transverse vertical section throughsaid wheel as it appears in the first view, the hub being in elevation.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Although T have shown a wheel which includes three spring units, T donot desire or intend to confine myself to that number, because one or atmost two of such units will be ample in many and indeed most cases, yetit is conceivable that even more than three units might be requiredunder some conditions.

In the drawings a wheel is represented which comprises a hub 1, a rim 2,and three intermediate units each consisting of three short innersprings 3 and three long outer springs 4; together with the securingmeans therefor.

The hub 1 may be of any suitable construction, but should by preferencebe provided with a plurality of exterior flanges 5, or equivalentmembers, spaced to receive between them lugs?v which are centrallylocated on the inner sides of the springs 3. The hub 1 for a wheelhaving a single spring unit requires but two flanges 5, and anadditional flange 5 is required for every addi tional spring unit.

The rim 2 may be of any ordinary type, but is provided with a pluralityof radial lugs 6, there being three of such lugs equidistantly disposedin the same plane with the annular space between each pair of adjacentflanges 5, for each spring unit. The radial planes of the whole numberof lugs 6 are equidistant, so the major apeXes of each unit in thepresent tri-unit construction are out of line laterally with the majorapeXes of any other unit and support the rim 2 or are supported thereonat points which taken all together are equidistant. The same thing wouldbe true of a bi-unit construction, also of a construction in which morethan three units were employed. Thus the rim support is evenlydistributed, whether there be one or a plurality of units.

Each long spring 4 has a lug 8 in the center on the inner side thereof.The short springs 3, which form the inner triangle of and said lugs 8which latter are between adjacent terminals.

The long springs 4, which form the outer triangle of each unit, inaddition to having their lugs 8 bolted to the companion springs 53 orthe latter bolted to the former, have their terminals rigidly secured tothe lugs 6 by means of other bolts 11 and nuts 12, the attachment tosaid lugs 6 being of the same character as that of the said springs 3 tosaid lugs 8. Thus tight, strong and rigid connections are madeasrequired at the center and circumference of the wheel and of each unit,and between the two triangles in each unit.

It is plainly to be seen that a wheel constructed in the mannerdescribed above is capable of yielding at practically all points, owingto the number and arrangement of the springs therein, and that suchwheel is, nevertheless, strong and stable enough for all practicalpurposes. The hub flanges afford a most efiicient anchorage or axialsupport forthe spring unit or units, and preclude any chance of lateraldisplacement as well as of detachment in any other direction, and therim and long spring lugs are quite as efficient as attaching points forthe terminals of both the long and short springs.

Inasmuch as absolutely tight joints must be made and maintained in thiswheel, the simple expedient for this purpose of resorting to lugs andbolts and nuts is found to be entirely adequate, although it is wellknown that more or less change in the lugs is quite within the range ofone skilled in the art, and that some equivalent of the bolts and nutsmight be used to advantage.

In order to insert the bolts 9 that hold the lugs 7 of the three centralsprings 3 in place between the two middle flanges 5, in thisconstruction, openings may be providedincone of the end flanges 5 forthe passage of said bolts, such an opening being indicated at 13 in Fig.2.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for What I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A spring wheel comprising a hub pro vided with peripheral projectingmembers, a rim provided with interior radial members, an intermediatespring unit consisting of an inner triangle having substantiallystraight one-piece sides which are provided with interior lugs thatextend between said peripheral hub members, and of an outer trianglehaving substantially straight onepiece sides which are provided withinterior lugs, means rigidly to connect said inner triangle lugs withsaid peripheral hub members, means rigidly to connect said innertriangle atthe angles with said outer triangle lugs, and means rigidlyto connect said outer triangle at the angles with said radial rimmembers.

2. A spring wheel comprising a hub provided with peripheral projectingmembers, a rim provided with interior radial members arranged in sets ofthree and at equal dis tances apart, circimiferentially of said rim,with said radial members in each set in oliset relationship to saidradial members in any other set, intermediate spring units consisting ofinner triangles having substantially straight one-piece sides which areprovided with interior lugs that extend between said peripheral hubmembers, and 0t outer triangles having substantially straight one-piecesides which are provided with interior lugs, means rigidly to securesaid inner triangle lugs to said peripheral hub members, means rigidlyto secure said inner triangles at the angles to said outer trianglelugs, and means rigidly to secure said outer triangles at the angles tosaid radial rim members,

ROBERT M. KEATING.

Witnesses i 1*. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

